Women In Motion celebrates women choreographers at the West Bund Museum

Celebrating creativity

2015 saw Kering launch Women In Motion at the Festival de Cannes, with the ambition of spotlighting women in cinema, both in front of, and behind the camera. Ever since, the program significantly extended its reach to include photography, but also music, design, art and choreography. 
In this spirit, Women In Motion founded Women In Motion at West Bund in 2021, partnering with the Centre Pompidou x West Bund Museum Project. During each of its three weekend line-ups, the contemporary dance festival has paid tribute to women choreographers, showcasing the visions of Chinese and French artists – whether acclaimed or emerging – while unearthing bold and complementary talent. 

 The Women In Motion at WestBund 2024

In September 2024, Kering kick-started its third edition of Women In Motion at Shanghai’s West Bund Museum, honoring the 60^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France. This time around, the French and Chinese choreographers, Julie Nioche, Gu Jiani and Hou Ying, were invited to make their art resonate with their cultures, as part of the performances and Talks under the guidance of guest curator, Dew Ge. In particular, the weekend of September 21 to 22 spotlights “Body Matters,” the program’s central theme, featuring three performances and Talks, two workshops and an improvisational dance evening – all officially open to the public. A celebratory documentary focused on artistic preparations for the festival – spanning Nantes, Kathmandu and Beijing as well as Shanghai – not to mention the choreographers’ work and perspective on discipline. 

2023 line-up

To celebrate the second edition in 2023, Women In Motion at West Bund welcomed Régine Chopinot, Wen Hui and Wang Mengfan as they joined forces one weekend in April. This meeting of the minds sparked the dance film, Outredanse, as a nod to Pierre Soulages’ “Outrenoir” genre – with an artistic bond struck between the duo of dancers and choreographers, Régine Chopinot and Wen Hui. What’s more, Wen Hui collaborated with the young dancers of Shanghai’s Jin Xing Dance Theater to breathe new life into her iconic piece, Skirt. On this occasion, China’s fast-emerging choreographer – Wang Mengfan – rose to the challenge by performing Narrative Fountain, her original work in response to the event. 
 

A unique program

Recognized as a major center in the region’s cultural landscape, the West Bund Museum is open to everyone, with the public being invited to take part in new experiences. For the Women In Motion at West Bund festival, it has prepared an unprecedented program. For the first time, two women choreographers - Mathilde Monnier from France and Duan Ni from China – will create a dialogue in choreographic form, while renowned Chinese choreographer Shi Jingxin will be accompanied by her troupe for a performance of a new dance work from her Body Museum Series No. 2. The event will also see Duan Ni present her first solo creation and direct an experimental workshop for amateurs and semi-professionals. Public conversations will be organized after the performances, in the presence of the artists.

About the Centre Pompidou x West Bund Museum Project

The Centre Pompidou x West Bund Museum Project was inaugurated in Shanghai on 6 November 2019, in the presence of Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, and Franck Riester, Minister for Culture. To date, it is the most significant project for cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries.